22: Foil

   Buck and Huck have several similarities. Their names only differ by a single letter, and they are approximately the same age. The two also develop a friendship rather quickly. Buck was raised in a classy, loving, wealthy family, while Huck was brought up in quite the opposite environment, being poor with an abusive, alcoholic father who was barely around. However, Huck seems to have better sense than the Grangerfords. They are in a feud with the Shepherdsons, and a few family members from each group have been killed because of this ridiculous spat. No one can remember the way this fight has started. Huck seems to somewhat realize how awful this fight is, which shows that a better upbringing may not make an individual superior. The boys are different in the way they grew-up, but also in the way they act now because of this.

21: Satire

  Satire continues to be a prominent feature in this novel. In chapter 17, one example would be Huck's forgetfulness of his fake name. It is dramatic irony when he does not remember that he is known as George Jackson, which causes him to ask Buck if he can spell it, so he will be reminded. He then memorizes how to spell the name so he is able to do it if he is ever asked to do so. It also seems ironic that Huck loves his time in the home and has a great feeling of happiness, but Emmeline, the deceased daughter, seemed to live a rather melancholic life. She had a fascination with death and created multiple poems and art pieces that were dark and depressing. It seems interesting that they both had such different experiences in the home they lived in at the same age. Chapter 18 also brings dramatic irony, when Huck is uncomfortable with a servant waiting on him. Each Grangerford family member has one, but he does not feel right about having his wait on him hand and foot, even though slavery was obviously perfectly normal during this time. This most likely developed from his friendship with Jim. Another example of irony is when the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons attend church together, but have their rifles hidden with them, and the sermon speaks of brotherhood. Not only is having a lethal weapon in a church ironic, but so is this idea of the two families hating each other despite hearing these words of how they should band together.

    Twain also satirizes Emmeline Grangerford's morbid poetry, as well as the idea of feuding families. He most likely does this to show that families may seem lovely and put-together on the outside, but every one is dysfunctional in their own way. This shows that even seemingly perfect families can mess things up, which he shows through the ridiculous feud between the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons, and the sadness of the dead daughter.

 

20: Characterization

 A prominent theme of this novel is "coming of age." Huck starts out the novel as an immature, mischievous young boy, but as the book progresses, particularly in chapters 12-16, readers see him begin to grow up. He is becoming a more responsible individual, as well as beginning to reason and contemplate his morals. He is starting to decipher rights from wrongs, and seems as though he wants to do the right and good things now, as opposed to stirring up trouble like he once was quite fond of.

   Huck does still possess his quick wit despite his maturing mind. He is still able to get out of situations by using this cleverness he is gifted with. This becomes most helpful when he creates the fantastic story for the ferry watchman of his family being stranded on the Walter Scott, and he convinces the watchman to go rescue this non-existent family. He may be becoming a young man quickly, but his creativity and rascal-like tendencies will most likely never completely vanish.

    This wit does get Huck into yet another sticky situation, however. After being separated from Jim in the fog, his canoe being pulled away from the raft, they are reunited. Jim had slept through that event, but is still thrilled when they are brought back together. Huck manages to convince Jim that he had dreamed the whole thing. Later, though, Jim notices the debris on the raft and becomes angry with Huck for lying and making a fool of him. He makes Huck feel guilty, because he was very concerned for his safety. Huck narrates, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and i warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither." (Twain, pg. 90) He apologizes to Jim because he genuinely feels bad for hurting him. This shows that the two are now true friends, and the differences of their skin colors no longer seem to matter in their relationship.

19: Figurative Language

    The first paragraph of chapter 13 is hyperbolic. In it, readers can comprehend the level of fear both Jim and Huck experience when they think their raft has floated away, and they are stuck dangerously close to seemingly murderous robbers. Huck narrates "Well, I catched my breath and most fainted," which depicts that he was startled and shocked by this occurrence. The paragraph also states that Jim was "so scared he hadn't hardly any strength left." This, again, emphasizes the terror the duo was suffering from and creates an understanding of the stress of this situation.

   The last line of this chapter is also an example of figurative language. It is as follows: "By the time I got there the sky was beginning to get a little gray in the east; so we struck for an island, and hid the raft, and sunk the skiff, and turned in and slept like dead people." (Twain, pg. 81) This sentence is a simile that describes the very deep sleep Huck and Jim fell into after their troublesome day. It illustrates that they were sleeping so soundly that were like dead people, or, in other words, dead to the outside world. They were so exhausted nothing would cause them to stir and they would most likely sleep for a very long time.

18: Conflict

   Huck has a hard decision to make in chapter 16. He has to choose between the women who have cared for him and his new dear friend. He is unsure if he should help Jim escape from his owner,especially after he hears his plans to rescue, or possibly steal, his family. He feels as though it would be a wrong-doing to Miss Watson, who has done so much for him, if he assists her ex-slave. He almost gives Jim up when they believe they have reached Cairo, but changes his mind when an ecstatic Jim says "Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes' fren' Jim's ever had; en you's de only fren' ole Jim's got now." (Twain, pg. 93)  He also mentions that Huck is the only person to ever keep a promise to him. Huck resolves his internal moral conflict by deciding to not worry about what is right and wrong, because that is too hard to answer. He convinced  himself it is best to simply act on whichever option seems "handiest," which in this case, was continuing on in his mission with Jim.

17: Symbol

  Runaways typically crave one thing: freedom. This case is not different for the two runaways of this novel, Jim and Huck. The Mississippi River symbolizes this freedom for the two. While they are sailing on their raft, or resting on the shore, they answer to no one but one another, and it seems as though nothing can catch them. The river takes them anywhere, and keeps them from things. It carries Huck further from Pap and the pecking of his caregivers in the town, and lifts Jim on his way to a free state and closer to his family.

   A fog arises on the river later in the novel, which causes Huck and Jim to become separated and lost for a bit. This fog could represent blindness, particularly targeted at Huck. He is already a free young man, he is not enslaved and about to be sold off, like Jim is. He had every reason to escape his cruel, drunken father, but the right thing to do would have been to return to the town and be taken care of by the widow or the judge, despite their annoying "pecking." Huck could have been a happy, educated lad spending time with his friends if he would have returned to the town, and he would have most likely been protected from Pap. He, basically, would have had everything Jim wants. This could also explain the symbolism of Jim and Huck being separated as they sail through the fog. Jim needs to run away if he wants to find his family and freedom, but Huck does not. Realistically, Huck should return home, and Jim should keep going. However, the struggles in the fog also show how much the two really need one another, and they continue on their free way.

16: Foil

   Jim is clearly a better a father figure than Pap, Huck's biological father, ever was and ever will be. Jim cares for Huck and attempts to keep him safe by telling him of the bad things that are coming and simply looking out for his well-being. He worries about Huck and makes sure he is as safe as possible. He is also open with Huck, which is shown when he answers his questions and discusses life with him. Pap would most likely never have sat down and had a nice conversation with his son, even if he was intoxicated. He even protects Huck from seeing some of the horrors of the world when he covers up the dead man in the floating house so he cannot see it. He makes sure that Huck is well disguised when he ventures into town so that he remains hidden. Huck, while it is not blatantly stated, feels safe with Jim, and has a much better relationship with him than he did with Pap.